6. Our Favourite Songs

Iwata:

It looks like we’ve got a little more time, so I’ll ask one more thing. If you were to choose one song that you especially like in Ocarina of Time, what would it be? But Yokota-san, I suppose it’s hard for you to choose just one! (laughs)

Yokota:

If I were to choose just one, it would be

Video: “Zelda’s Lullaby”

It looks like we’ve got a little more time, so I’ll ask one more thing. If you were to choose one song that you especially like in Ocarina of Time, what would it be? But Yokota-san, I suppose it’s hard for you to choose just one!

“Zelda’s Lullaby” . I performed this at Nintendo World 2011. I loved that song so much that I sat around practising it at home. When I was preparing for my entrance exam to Nintendo, I thought you might check my piano skills.

Iwata:

You practised it for your entrance exam? (laughs)

Yokota:

Yeah. I thought there might be a practical skills test, so I practised a lot, but then there wasn’t one! (laughs) I arranged it my own way on the piano. That’s how great I think it is.

Iwata:

I see. What about you, Kondo-san?

Kondo:

If I were to choose just one, it might be an unusual one. (laughs)

Iwata:

Oh? (laughs) What if I asked you to name three?

Kondo:

As I was playing the Nintendo 3DS version, there were several that struck me as done well.. Although, it’s a little embarrassing to say so myself! (laughs) One plays when you go to Zelda’s castle and hide in the garden so the guards can’t find you. I forgot the title, though.

Yokota:

That’s

Video: “The Courtyard Game at Hyrule Castle.”

It looks like we’ve got a little more time, so I’ll ask one more thing. If you were to choose one song that you especially like in Ocarina of Time, what would it be? But Yokota-san, I suppose it’s hard for you to choose just one!

It sounds like a game of hide-and-seek. It represents that feeling of final relief you get when you’re able to hide from the guards by carefully making stealthy steps. I thought, “I did a pretty good job!” (laughs)

Yokota:

Like you’re praising yourself 10 years ago? (laughs)

Kondo:

Yeah! (laughs)

Iwata:

It sounds like the value of the music for you, Kondo-san, is less about how the melody is appreciated by itself than how well the sounds serve their purpose in the context of the game.

Kondo:

That’s right.

Yokota:

You can only use that song at that place. But you only go there once, so you can’t hear it twice.

Iwata:

It’s a one-time-only minigame. When you clear it, you get to meet Princess Zelda.

Yokota:

Right. So I want players to pay attention to that song when they play that part in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

Iwata:

And your second song?

Kondo:

The one for the Super Cucco Game mentioned earlier.

Yokota:

Oh! (laughs) That is a good song! I clucked along as I played.

Kondo:

That song represents the sound chickens make.

Iwata:

Again, you match the music to the game content.

Kondo:

Right. I think I found the right tempo for all those chickens running around.

Iwata:

And your last one?

Kondo:

Um…another one?

Yokota:

I like the way he hasn’t mentioned a single major theme! (laughs)

Kondo:

The song during the ending credits! It looks like the images have been set to the music, but actually it was the other way around.

Iwata:

Huh? You didn’t come up with the music first?

Kondo:

No.

Iwata:

You matched the music to the pictures?

Kondo:

We put in the music later. So when that girl shows up, we put in her vocals. I forgot her name, though. (laughs)

Yokota:

Malon. She sings Epona’s song.

Kondo:

Right, right! Malon! Malon shows up, and you hear her sing. Gorons appear, and drums pound. I arranged each strain that way.

Iwata:

Now that’s surprising!

Yokota:

Kondo-san, sorry. We may need to cut this part.

Kondo:

Oh, really? Because it’s the ending song?

Yokota:

No, we’re making the final adjustments and it just doesn’t fit right.

Iwata:

You’ve got to put that in, Yokota-san. It’s one of Kondo-san’s three favourite songs.

Yokota:

Oh, right, I suppose so… It’s just that on the Nintendo 3DS system, it loads during the ending, too, and there’s a problem with it being off a little, but…well, I’ll make it work somehow! I will!

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